UK set for a wintry Easter, with cold weather expected to bring travel chaos

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The cold weather which has gripped the country for weeks is set to make a chilly return over Easter, adding to travel woes and train closures over the weekend.

The Met Office has warned that the UK could see snow over the festive weekend, which could add to congestion and delays on the roads.

It is expected there will be temperature lows of up to -10C, as well as bitingly cold winds and possible snowfall.

Rail problems will also likely see travellers from Maundy Thursday taking to the roads instead of going by train, adding to traffic.

RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis warned that the Easter getaway is due to be one of the busiest times of the year on the road.

The UK has been chilled by the Beast from the East and the 'mini Beast' this year, and there are now warning of a white Easter Credit:
Danny Lawson/PA Wire

He said: “The getaway for Easter tends to be one of the busiest of the year, and we’re expecting 2018 to be no exception. But if people are hoping for spring-like warmth to accompany the longer days, they might well be disappointed.

“With a distinctly wintry feel to the weather persisting right up to Easter itself, millions of families will need to make sure they still bundle their hats and thick coats as they pack up the car so they don’t get caught out."

Although there will not be roadworks, it is likely that the major works on the railways will cause more people to take to the roads.

Mr Dennis explained: “The good news is that the majority of roadworks on England’s major roads – the motorways and A-roads that carry the bulk of the traffic to popular Easter destinations such as the coast – will be free of works around the main Easter weekend.

“However, that’s not the case on the railways with some major works planned so that will likely mean more people turning to cars, buses and coaches in some parts of the country. The message to drivers is to plan ahead and try to avoid the busiest times on the roads, which are likely to be Maundy Thursday and Good Friday itself.”

The RMT has announced strike over the Easter weekend when RMT members on SWR will refuse to work rest days, with 80 per cent of members voting for the strikes.

Richard Dean, Greater Anglia Train service delivery director, said: "We are disappointed that our conductors have voted for further industrial action, although it should be noted that the number in favour of strikes is smaller than before.

"We have had some very constructive talks with RMT union officials and we still hope we can resolve this issue by talking.

"Our position remains the same. We highly value our conductors, we're keeping them on our trains but we want them to concentrate on customer service rather than opening and closing doors."

The company said it would continue to run a full service during any proposed strike action using stand-in conductors.

It said they have been trained to the same standards as the usual conductors for the routes they operate.